Doctor Abbott

Untitled Part 38

The next evening Ben packed up a few items for King William, including an old french story book he was offered by a client. Despite her protests he managed to convince Lúta to join him for dinner at the palace.

They entered the greatroom with the items in hand and Ben offered them up to Mâvis, "I was thinking if you had anything going across the pond that I could throw them in your crate."

Mâvis plucked up the book with odd writing on it, "I have nothing this time, what is this?"

"It is for the boy that washed up on shore. Some stories in his own language. He may find it reminds him of home, or at least is something familiar in a world where nothing is really familiar as of yet." Ben tooled through his food, cutting into his meat. He took a sip off his tea and noticed that it tasted of congac and looked into his mug. "That is good, sir. What do you think of it?"

"Not bad. Not as strong as what I am used to." Mâvis was eyeing Ben intently as he ate. "Abbott, are you enjoying your cottage?"

Ben took immediate note of the odd question but didn't skip a beat in eating his meal as he responded, "Of course, it's very comfortable. We have everything we need there, including room for a family." He smiled warmly hoping to crack through the king's stiff gaze.

Mâvis saw nothing alarming in Ben's reply but noticed Lúta freeze and lower her fork as soon as he asked the question, "And what about you, Lúta? Is your new home to your liking?"

Genevieve put her hand on Lúta's signaling her not to answer, "Mâvis, of course they are happy, let them be. What kind of question is that anyway?"

"Just seeing if they are in need of anything, love." He smirked sarcastically before addressing Ben again, "You do know if you are in need of anything you can come to me, do you not?"

Ben was now feeling significantly bothered by the direction of the conversation, "Of course I do and hope that you would do the same." Ben took another bite of his food, chewing slower now as he tried to process what was going on. "Is there something bothering you, sir? You seem a bit on edge this evening."

Mâvis straightened up and started on his own food as if it was just put in front of him, "Not at all Abbott, please enjoy your food." But the king spent most of his meal now taking frequent mental notes of Lúta's disposition. It wasn't long before Ben noticed and the rest of dinner went along rather quietly. The king took one last look at both of them and stormed out of the room.

Ben wiped his mouth and placed his napkin on the table, "I suppose I should go talk to him."

Lúta stood before Ben could even get up, "You will not, take me home. I want no more of this."

Genevieve grabbed her friend's hand, "Lúta, it is alright, stay. You know how Mâvis gets. Please do not leave me to finish my meal alone. You too Abbott, please just enjoy your dinner. I have missed you both so much. The palace is empty without you here."

Ben paused for a moment, "I will not sleep tonight if I don't figure out what is going on."

As soon as Ben left Genie turned to Lúta, "There is rumor that Ben was offered a position with King William. Reagan heard discussion of it in the tavern the other night."

Lúta looked shocked, "If he did, Ben told me nothing of it. However, I would support him completely if he did." Lúta attempted to finish her meal now that she was alone with the queen.

"If it is true Mâvis would feel highly betrayed, it was his biggest fear in freeing Ben." Genevieve reached for Lúta's hand to get her attention, "Plus I would miss you terribly. Truly you are like a sister to me now. I am not even sure what I would do without you."

"You know I love you and Jocelyn, but your husband is dangerous and controlling. We will never have peace here. It does not matter that Ben is no longer his slave. So long as we live here Ben will be in you husband's shadow. I will not live that way. I will not let our cub live that way." She covered her stomach as if to shield herself.

Genie gasped at the realization of what Lúta was saying, "Are you pregnant?" Lúta nodded through her now teary eyes. Genevieve scooted closer and covered her friend's stomach with her own hand, "I swear to you Ben is safe and he is free. The king is just in fear of losing his friend. I will talk to him and put this right. Please can we put all this talk of King William's offer to rest? With everything else Mâvis has to deal with the last thing he wants to hear is that his friend is leaving."

Lúta stood to leave, "That is just it though, if Ben was truly free it would not matter to Mâvis what he does. We are still prisoners here, maybe not in the palace anymore but tell me for even a moment could Ben take a step off this island? What would happen to him? What if anyone else wanted to take a step off the island? Would the king care?" Genevieve's mouth hung open as she wasn't even sure how to answer the question. Lúta wiped her eyes, "You know I am right, Genie." With that she took her shawl and left.

A few hours later Ben went home to see if his wife was there. She was sitting at the table in full tears. He sat across from her and picked up both her hands, carressing her palms as he held them. "What is it, dear? What is wrong?"

"I may have said too much at the palace, I am sorry." She couldn't even look at him, fearing that she had given Genevieve too much information of any plans Ben was making.

Ben was now thinking that she was talking about the baby, he sought to comfort her, "Don't worry about it. They would have found out sooner or later. I was hoping we could tell them together but I don't mind that you let it slip a little early. You're just excited."

Now Lúta looked confused, "So everything is alright then? Mâvis is not angry?"

"To tell you the truth I couldn't find him, he wasn't in his chambers and that palace has so many blasted rooms I'm not sure I would have found him if I looked all night." Ben got up and poured himself a tea, topping it off with a little of the congac. Then he grabbed a book off the shelf and went into the parlor, "Come, Lúta, let's read. It will ease your mind."